Voice of America, 98-07-14

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

[02] U-N / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[03] U-S KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[05] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] NORTHERN IRELAND (L) BY ANDRE DE NESNERA (LONDON)

INTRO: IN THE SMALL NORTHERN IRELAND TOWN OF BALLYMONEY, A FUNERAL SERVICE HAS BEEN HELD FOR THREE YOUNG BOYS -- THE LATEST VICTIMS OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.

TEXT: RICHARD, MARK AND JASON QUINN -- AGED ELEVEN, TEN AND NINE WERE MURDERED EARLY SUNDAY WHEN THEIR HOME IN BALLYMONEY WAS FIREBOMBED. THE YOUNG BROTHERS WERE AMONG THE FEW CATHOLICS LIVING ON A LARGELY PROTESTANT HOUSING ESTATE.

THE CHIEF INSPECTOR LEADING THE MURDER INQUIRY SAID THE DEATHS OF THE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WERE -- IN HIS WORDS -- "THE UNBELIEVABLE RESULT OF SECTARIANISM AND NAKED HATRED AT ITS WORST."

OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, NORTHERN IRELAND HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF SOME DEVASTATING VIOLENCE -- HOMES FIREBOMBED, CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS SHOT IN PUBS, CAR BOMBS EXPLODING IN BUSY TOWN CENTERS.

BUT THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF THESE THREE BROTHERS HAS SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH A PROVINCE ALL TOO ACCUSTOMED TO TERRORIST ACTS. THE BRITISH TABLOID "DAILY MAIL" SUMMED UP THE FEELINGS OF MANY IN A BANNER HEADLINE ABOVE THE SMILING PICTURE OF THE THREE CHILDREN -- "BURNED ON THE ALTAR OF HATE."

THE CATHOLIC PRIEST WHO LED THE FUNERAL MASS -- FATHER PETER FORDE -- TOLD BRITISH RADIO BEFORE THE SERVICE, THAT THE REACTION TO THE DEATH OF THE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

THERE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY OUTPOURING OF GRIEF, OF SADNESS AND OF LOVE AND CARE IN THIS PARISH -- IN THE TOWN OF BALLYMONEY -- AND NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BUT ALMOST ACROSS THE WORLD, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING MESSAGES FROM FAR AND NEAR.

IN THE SPIRIT OF ECUMENISM, FATHER FORDE WAS JOINED IN THE FUNERAL SERVICE BY THE LOCAL PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST MINISTERS.

MEANWHILE IN THE TOWN OF PORTADOWN -- NEXT TO THE PROTESTANT CHURCH AT DRUMCREE -- THE STANDOFF BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE 'ORANGE ORDER' AND BRITISH SECURITY FORCES CONTINUES. FOR MORE THAN A WEEK NOW, THE PROTESTANTS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM MARCHING DOWN A CATHOLIC ENCLAVE OF PORTADOWN.

FATHER FORDE TOLD BRITISH RADIO THOSE SCENES AT PORTADOWN ARE SURREAL.

AND TO AN EXTENT ONE THINKS ALMOST OF A SIDE SHOW BEING PLAYED OUT AT DRUMCREE AND ELSEHWERE -- THEY ARE ALMOST LIKE PUPPETS PLAYING A DIFFERENT KIND OF THEATER TO WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE DEALING WITH REALITY OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE PETTY POWER STRUGGLES AND THE PETTY DANCING OF RITUALS IS FOR OTHERS AT THIS TIME.

MANY POLITICIANS -- AS WELL AS BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS -- HAVE CALLED ON THE 'ORANGE ORDER' TO END ITS STANDOFF. BUT PORTADOWN ORANGE ORDER LEADERS SAY THEY WILL STAY UNTIL THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WALK DOWN THE CATHOLIC GARVAGHY ROAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/JWH
14-Jul-98 7:52 AM EDT (1152 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-N / KOSOVO (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY (U-N-H-C-R) REPORTS A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLEEING THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THAT LAST WEEK, ALMOST THREE-THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO FLED INTO ANOTHER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC, MONTENEGRO.

TEXT: MONTENEGRO HAD BEEN RECORDING AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN 200 AND 250 REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO EACH DAY. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE GROWING VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO LED TO A BIG JUMP IN THE NUMBER LAST WEEK.

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN KRIS JANOWSKI SAYS AID WORKERS REGISTERED 29-HUNDRED PEOPLE FROM KOSOVO AT TWO ENTRY POINTS INTO MONTENEGRO.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL OF PEOPLE DISPLACED INTO MONTENEGRO FROM KOSOVO TO OVER 18-THOUSAND WHICH IS AGAIN A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. THE SHARP INCREASE OF ARRIVALS IN MONTENEGRO MAY BE EXPLAINED BY THE INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY, SHELLING AND FIGHTING IN THE PEC AREA.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE INCREASING NUMBER OF REFUGEES IS PUTTING CONSIDERABLE STRAIN ON MONTENEGRO'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEM. HE SAYS BORDER TOWNS ARE RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE.

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS TRYING TO REFURBISH PUBLIC BUILDINGS TO ACCOMMODATE THE REFUGEES. BUT, MR. JANOWSKI SAYS IN SOME PLACES, EVEN PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

THE MONTENEGRAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACTUALLY VERY, VERY GOOD IN TAKING THOSE PEOPLE, LOOKING AFTER THEM AND NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. BUT, MONTENEGRO IS A TINY, LITTLE REPUBLIC, AND THEY CANNOT TAKE AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE. SO, WE WORRY THAT IF THE EXODUS CONTINUES AT THE CURRENT PACE, THE MONTENEGRO AUTHORITIES MAY SOON BECOME OVERWHELMED.

MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THE REFUGEE AGENCY ALSO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF U-N STAFF AND ABOUT 13-THOUSAND KOSOVO REFUGEES IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. HE CALLS NORTHERN ALBANIA A DANGEROUS PLACE -- HEAVILY ARMED AND TORN BY CLAN RIVALRY. MR. JANOWSKI SAYS THERE WERE SEVERAL SHOOTING DEATHS IN NORTHERN ALBANIA LAST WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
14-Jul-98 11:35 AM EDT (1535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] U-S KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS EXPECT TO TRAVEL TO NORTHERN IRAQ THIS WEEK IN A BID TO REVIVE STALLED PEACE TALKS BETWEEN WARRING RIVAL FACTIONS IN THE KURDISH CONTROLLED ENCLAVE. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE VISIT -- THE FIRST IN MORE THAN A YEAR BY U-S OFFICIALS -- HAS RAISED HOPES TWO RIVAL IRAQI KURD GROUPS WILL MOVE CLOSER TO A LASTING PEACE.

TEXT: U-S PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS -- DAVID WELCH -- WILL LEAD THE DELEGATION WHICH ALSO WILL INCLUDE TURKISH OFFICIALS.

MR. WELCH IS EXPECTED TO SHUTTLE BETWEEN LEADERS OF THE TWO GROUPS -- MASSOUD BARZANI OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (K-D-P) AND JALAL TALABANI OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN (P-U-K). HE HOPES TO GET AGREEMENT ON FINAL DETAILS OF A PEACE PLAN THAT WOULD SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF BOTH GROUPS AS OUTLINED IN THEIR SEPARATE PROPOSALS.

U-S AND TURKISH OFFICIALS HOPE MR. WELCH'S VISIT WILL LEAD TO A MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO KURDISH LEADERS. THE TWO FACTIONS WENT TO WAR IN MAY 1994 AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS OF JOINTLY ADMINISTERING NORTHERN IRAQ IN A COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT WAS FORMED AFTER ELECTIONS IN 1992.

BUT COOPERATION SOON GAVE WAY TO BITTER RIVALRIES, AND BY MAY 1994, THE TWO PARTIES WERE BOGGED DOWN IN FACTIONAL FIGHTING WHICH HAS CLAIMED NEARLY THREE-THOUSAND LIVES. A U-S BROKERED CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN HOLDING SINCE LAST OCTOBER. BUT U-S LED EFFORTS TO RECONCILE THE WARRING FACTIONS -- KNOWN AS THE ANKARA PEACE PROCESS -- WERE FROZEN

THE INTERIOR MINISTER OF THE K-D-P-CONTROLLED KURDISH REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION, FAZIL MIRANI, EXPRESSED CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT MR. WELCH'S MISSION IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A.

I BELIEVE HE [DAVID WELCH] WON'T COME WITH EMPTY HANDS AND HE WON'T LEAVE EMPTY HANDED EITHER.

MR. MIRANI SAYS ISSUES THAT CAN BE RESOLVED DURING MR WELCH'S VISIT MIGHT INCLUDE THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR, THE WITHDRAWAL OF HEAVY ARTILLERY FROM THE CEASEFIRE LINE, AND THE RETURN OF CIVILIANS DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING.

ANALYSTS SAY IRAQI KURDS REMAIN A KEY COMPONENT IN THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO KEEP UP PRESSURE ON IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSAIN. THEY SAY FEUDING BETWEEN THE KURDISH GROUPS HAS UNDERMINED U-S POLICY. THE IRAQI LEADER HAS BEGUN TO REASSERT HIS INFLUENCE OVER THE KURDISH NORTH BY BACKING ONE KURDISH GROUP AGAINST THE OTHER. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
14-Jul-98 9:53 AM EDT (1353 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN EUROPE SOARED TUESDAY ON POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS FROM THAT CONTINENT AND ELSEWHERE. PAUL FRANCUCH HAS THE MARKET FIGURES FROM LONDON.

TEXT: FIGURES INDICATING LOW INFLATION, A POSSIBLE ECONOMIC UPTURN IN JAPAN, AND ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS FOR RUSSIA'S FALTERING ECONOMY COMBINED TO BOOST INVESTOR CONFIDENCE.

PARIS MARKETS WERE CLOSED FOR BASTILLE DAY, BUT IN LONDON, THE KEY "FOOTSIE 100" STOCK INDEX BOOSTED ITS VALUE BY MORE THAN TWO-PERCENT, WITH A 142-POINT GAIN.

IN FRANKFURT, THE "DAX" POSTED A CLOSING RECORD, UP ALMOST 79-POINTS, WHICH IS NEARLY ONE-AND-ONE-THIRD PERCENT FOR THE DAY. SMALLER MARKETS IN AMSTERDAM, MILAN, AND ZURICH ALSO CLOSED HIGHER. RUSSIA'S MAIN STOCK MARKET SUSPENDED TRADING AFTER PRICES GAINED 17-PERCENT IN VALUE FOR THE DAY.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR WAS UP SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK, AND NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENT AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

LONDON GOLD CLOSED JUST SHY OF 294 DOLLARS AN OUNCE -- A GAIN FOR THE DAY OF TWO DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PCF/RAE
14-Jul-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] NY ECON WRAP (S&L) BY JOE CHAPMAN (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN NEW YORK CLOSED UP MORE THAN ONE PERCENT TO NEW RECORDS FOR THE MAJOR STOCK INDEXES TODAY (TUESDAY) ON OPTIMISM ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS AND CONTINUED LOW INFLATION. V-O-A'S JOE CHAPMAN REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED UP 149 POINTS TO CLOSE AT AN ALL TIME RECORD HIGH OF 92-HUNDRED-45, BREAKING A RECORD SET TWO MONTHS AGO. THE BROADER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED UP 12 POINTS AND REACHED A RECORD HIGH OF 11-HUNDRED-77.

THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX ADVANCED ONLY THREE POINTS, BUT THAT WAS ENOUGH TO GIVE THE TECHNOLOGY-HEAVY INDEX ITS FIFTH STRAIGHT RECORD HIGH CLOSE AT 19-HUNDRED-68.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 1998, THE 30 STOCK DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAS ADVANCED MORE THAN 16 PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 HAS MOVED UP 21 PERCENT AND THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE ADVANCED 25 PERCENT DURING THE SAME PERIOD.

ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET WAS FUELED BY GENERALLY GOOD SECOND QUARTER CORPORATE EARNINGS AND BY A GOVERNMENT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT THAT INDICATES INFLATION IS LOWER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

ANALYST PHILLIP SHETTEWEI (SHEHT-A-WAY) SAYS INVESTORS' CONCERNS HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED AND PREDICTS THERE IS MORE VOLATILITY AHEAD IN THE U-S STOCK MARKETS. BUT HE SAYS LONG TERM INVESTORS SHOULD NOT BE TOO NERVOUS.

ENJOY THIS LITTLE WINDOW THAT INVESTORS HAVE NOW. THAT WINDOW COULD BE TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, BUT THE POINT IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO REVISIT THE ASIAN CRISIS, YOU ARE GOING TO REVISIT JAPAN AND THE YEN, YOU ARE GOING TO REVISIT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHINESE DEVALUATION AS MUCH AS THE CHINESE HAVE SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. YOU ARE GOING TO REVISIT PRE-ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEGATIVE EARNINGS, BUT THE LONG TERM SECULAR PICTURE IS STILL VERY FAVORABLE SO INVESTORS SHOULD STAY PUT, BUY QUALITY STUFF AND STAY DIVERSIFIED.

ONE CONCERN OF MANY ANALYSTS IS THAT A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STOCKS HAVE LED THE STOCK MARKET UPWARD WITH LIMITED PARTICIPATION BY SMALL AND MEDIUM CAPITALIZATION STOCKS. BUT SOME ANALYSTS EXPECT THE OTHER STOCKS TO JOIN IN THE UPWARD MOVE AS MORE COMPANIES REPORT EARNINGS THAT MEET EXPECTATIONS. THE PRIVATE CONFERENCE BOARD SAYS A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF COMPANY CHIEF EXECUTIVES EXPECT MODERATE TO SUBSTANTIAL PROFIT INCREASES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/PT
14-Jul-98 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE ELECTION DEFEAT OF JAPAN'S RULING POLITICAL PARTY, THE RESIGNATION OF ITS PRIME MINISTER, AND THE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS UPHEAVAL DOMINATE THIS COUNTRY'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY. A CLOSE SECOND IS HORROR, OUTRAGE AND GRIEF FOR THE DEATHS BY ARSON OF THREE LITTLE BOYS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, AND THE HOPE IT MAY QUIET, OR AT LEAST DAMPEN THE FIRES OF HATRED AS THE PROTESTANT "MARCHING SEASON" DRAWS TO A CLOSE IN ULSTER. THE OTHER BIG TOPIC IS THE RUSSIAN I-M-F BAILOUT, /// OPT /// AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM STILL ALIVE IN CONGRESS. /// END OPT /// JOINING US NOW IS ________________FOR A CLOSER LOOK WITH SOME QUOTES, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: FROM ONE END OF THE NATION TO THE OTHER, U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE REACTING TO THE ELECTION LOSS BY JAPAN'S LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE RESULTING RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER RYUTARO HASHIMOTO. IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, READERS OF THE EVENING "STAR-BULLETIN" SEE THIS REACTION:

VOICE: SHOCK TREATMENT WAS ADMINISTERED BY JAPANESE VOTERS ANGRY ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT'S INDECISIVENESS IN DEALING WITH THE COUNTRY'S WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER A SINGLE POLITICAL SHOCK WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO JAR THE RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY INTO BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE AND OVERCOMING THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE OF JAPAN'S VIRTUAL ONE-PARTY SYSTEM. ..... THE ELECTION RESULTS OFFERED NO ENCOURAGEMENT THAT CHANGE IS IMMINENT.

TEXT: AT LEAST FIVE-THOUSAND KILOMETERS AWAY, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH PRIME MINISTER HASHIMOTO'S APOLOGETIC RESIGNATION.

VOICE: BECAUSE THE L-D-P (LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY) IS RUN BEHIND THE SCENES BY PARTY ELDERS, [MR.] HASHIMOTO'S ADMISSION OF INEPTITUDE IS MORE AN APOLOGY TO THEM THAN TO THE NATION, AND SINCE POLICY ON CRUCIAL FISCAL AND MONETARY MATTERS IS DETERMINED BY THE PERMANENT BUREAUCRACY IN KEY MINISTRIES, [MR.] HASHIMOTO'S ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY SERVES MORE TO DISGUISE THAN TO ILLUMINATE THE CAUSE OF JAPAN'S POLICY-MAKING PARALYSIS.

TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" WONDERS WHO COMES NEXT?

VOICE: PRIME MINISTER ... HASHIMOTO'S RESIGNATION ... SENT SHOCK WAVES GENERATED BY UNCERTAINTY. THERE ARE NO CLEAR SUCCESSORS TO MR. HASHIMOTO, WHO HAS BEEN CRITICIZED SHARPLY FOR BEING TOO SLOW TO DEAL WITH 500-BILLION DOLLARS IN BAD DEBT HELD BY JAPAN'S BANKS AND TOO TIMID IN HIS REMEDIES FOR THE COUNTRY'S RECESSION. WORSE, POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS APPEAR TO BE EVEN-MORE CAUTIOUS, MORE RELUCTANT TO TACKLE JAPAN'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, THAN WAS MR. HASHIMOTO. SO WHAT DOES HAPPEN NEXT?

TEXT: AND LASTLY, "USA TODAY" HAS THIS COMMENT:

VOICE: MOST OF THE WORLD LONG AGO CONCLUDED THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO LIFT THE NATION'S DANGEROUSLY WEAK ECONOMY OUT OF A RECESSION WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH. WITH JAPANESE VOTERS REGISTERING THE SAME OPINION SUNDAY, THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THEIR LEADERS WILL FINALLY TAKE DECISIVE ACTION. THE NEARLY UNANIMOUS EARLY VIEW IS: DON'T BET ON IT.

TEXT: MOVING ON TO EUROPE, AND THE NATION'S OTHER DOMINANT EDITORIAL TOPIC -- THREE YOUNG BROTHERS, BURNED TO DEATH IN THEIR BEDS IN A FIREBOMB ATTACK IN NORTHERN IRELAND, MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" HOLDS OUT HOPE THAT THE "BOYS' MURDER MAY BE A TURNING POINT."

VOICE: THE ONLY GOOD THAT COULD COME FROM THE DEATH BY FIRE OF THREE LITTLE BOYS IN NORTHERN IRELAND WOULD BE IF REVULSION AT THEIR MURDERS WOULD BRING CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS TOGETHER AT LAST. THAT MAY BE HAPPENING ALREADY. ..... SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS ARE DARKEST, A BREAKTHROUGH WILL OCCUR. THE MURDER OF FOUR LITTLE BLACK GIRLS IN A CHURCH BOMBING IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, IN 1963 SO REPULSED THE NATION THAT IT BECAME A TURNING POINT FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

TEXT: "THE [MINNEAPOLIS] STAR TRIBUNE" IS LESS HOPEFUL.

VOICE: YOUNG RICHARD, MARK AND JASON QUINN WERE ROASTED ALIVE IN THEIR NORTHERN IRELAND HOME LAST WEEKEND. /// OPT

TEXT: NEW YORK'S "THE DAILY NEWS" COMMENTS:

VOICE: OPTIMISTS HOPE ... THE MURDERS WILL SHOCK NORTHERN IRELAND TO ITS SENSES. PESSIMISTS DON'T BELIEVE THE WORDS 'NORTHERN IRELAND' AND 'SENSES' CAN LOGICALLY BE USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

TEXT: NOTING THE SUBDUED NATURE OF MOST OF THE HUNDREDS OF PARADES THROUGHOUT NORTHERN IRELAND SINCE THE DEATHS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" COMMENTS:

VOICE: THE DEADLY CULTURE OF RETALIATION THAT HAS FILLED CEMETERIES FOR GENERATIONS SEEMS TO HAVE SAID, FOR THE MOST PART, 'NO MORE,' AND MEANT IT. AT LEAST THAT IS THE PRAYER OF EVERY THINKING PERSON IN IRELAND AND OF EVERYONE WATCHING WITH A NERVOUS FLUTTER IN THE COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL STOMACH.

TEXT: AND "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS THIS:

VOICE: THERE SHOULD BE A RULE OF AUTOMATIC AND TOTAL DISQUALIFICATION FOR ANY ETHNIC OR POLITICAL CAUSE WHOSE UPHOLDERS BELIEVE THEY CAN ADVANCE IT BY THE MURDER OF CHILDREN.

TEXT: MOVING QUICKLY TO ANOTHER TOPIC, THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND EMERGENCY BAILOUT OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY WITH A NEW LOAN OF TWENTY-TWO-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLARS, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" FEELS THE IDEA IS SHEER LUNACY.

VOICE: MAYBE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE SEEN IN PUBLIC MAKING A CASE FOR POURING 118-BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE ECONOMIES OF ASIA, WHICH AFTER ALL ARE RELATIVELY FUNCTIONAL. BUT WHAT'S THE CASE FOR DUMPING BILLIONS DOWN A BOTTOMLESS PIT? PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY ....... SAID OF THE I-M-F'S BIG EFFORT FOR RUSSIA: 'THE SIZE OF THE PACKAGE SHOWS STRONG CONFIDENCE IN RUSSIA'S REFORM COMMITMENTS AND REFLECTS STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE WORLD COMMUNITY.' CONFIDENCE IN RUSSIA'S REFORM COMMITMENTS? THE POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMY OF RUSSIA EVOKES MANY SENTIMENTS, INCLUDING HOPE, BUT 'STRONG CONFIDENCE' IS NOT ON THE LIST ...... WE CAN'T HELP WONDERING, HOW DID THE I-M-F GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF USING U-S TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO FINANCE CAPITAL FLIGHT FROM RUSSIA?

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON TIMES" ALSO BRISTLES AT THE TERM "STRONG CONFIDENCE" BUT SUGGESTS THE LOAN HAD TO BE MADE TO AVOID CATASTROPHE.

VOICE: POURING ADDITIONAL BILLIONS INTO RUSSIA BY NO MEANS GUARANTEES SUCCESS, JUST AS PAST BILLIONS PROVED INEFFECTUAL. YET, WITHOUT THE LATEST BAILOUT, FAILURE AND CHAOS WERE NEAR-CERTAINTIES. THE NEW FUNDS, COUPLED WITH A GENUINE REFORM GOVERNMENT, OFFER A CHANCE AT SUCCESS -- A LIMITED CHANCE, ADMITTEDLY, BUT THE BEST CHANCE ANYBODY'S GOT.

TEXT: THAT COMMENT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM TUESDAY'S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/MMK
14-Jul-98 11:09 AM EDT (1509 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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